Ex-Kumbotso Chairman Returns to Tailoring After Losing Seat, Says Trade Is More Stable Than Politics
Ex-Kumbotso Chairman Returns to Tailoring After Losing Seat, Says Trade Is More Stable Than Politics
Former Kumbotso LGA Chairman Abdullahi Gali Basaf returns to tailoring after losing his political seat, saying skilled trades offer lasting stability.
Former Kumbotso Local Government Area Chairman, Abdullahi Gali Shitu, popularly known as Comrade Abdullahi Gali Basaf, has returned to his tailoring business after losing his political seat, saying a sustainable trade can provide more stability than political office.
In a development that has sparked conversations about life after public office, the former Kano State local government chairman has chosen to return to the sewing machine rather than wait for another political appointment.
Basaf is now spending his time supervising apprentices, cutting fabrics and producing garments at his tailoring workshop in Sheka Ward, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.
For him, the return to tailoring is not a sign of defeat. Instead, it represents a deliberate decision to invest in a profession that has supported him for years and provided him with financial independence even during his political career.
The former chairman also wants his experience to serve as an example to young Nigerians who often view politics and white-collar employment as the only desirable career paths.
According to Basaf, politicians should have a trade, profession or business that can sustain them regardless of whether they are currently occupying political office.
Why Former Kumbotso Chairman Returned to Tailoring
Basaf said his decision to return fully to tailoring was intentional.
He believes political office should primarily be viewed as an opportunity to serve the people and not as a permanent means of livelihood.
The former chairman argued that politicians should develop businesses and professional skills that can support them before, during and after their time in government.
For Basaf, tailoring has always been one of those dependable sources of income.
He started learning and practising the trade from a young age and has remained involved in the business for more than a decade.
Over the years, he combined tailoring with other activities, including farming, painting and small business ventures. However, tailoring remained particularly important to him.
He explained that his tailoring business was even instrumental in supporting his political activities.
“Tailoring is not a small trade. It is a major one. It sustains livelihoods,” Basaf said.
According to him, income from the business helped him finance campaigns and support political organisations.
He believes that without the financial foundation provided by his tailoring business, sustaining his political activities would have been much more difficult.
Tailoring Helped Fund His Political Campaigns
One of the most notable aspects of Basaf's story is that his business was not abandoned when he entered politics.
Instead, he continued to recognise the importance of having an independent source of income.
He recalled a period when he personally bought fabrics, sewed garments and sold them to customers.
That experience, he said, taught him the value of hard work and entrepreneurship.
His story challenges the perception that successful politicians must abandon manual or vocational businesses once they become public officials.
Basaf believes the opposite should be the case.
In his view, having a business can give politicians greater independence and help them avoid becoming completely dependent on political positions.
It also means they have something to return to when their tenure ends.
Basaf's Tailoring Business Employs About 20 People
Today, Basaf's tailoring operation has developed beyond a one-person enterprise.
The former chairman said the business currently employs about 20 people, including apprentices who are learning the craft.
His workshop therefore provides more than personal income.
It also creates opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills that could eventually become the foundation of their own businesses.
Basaf sees this as part of his wider contribution to society.
Rather than simply returning to tailoring for personal survival, he wants to expand the enterprise and create even more employment opportunities.
His long-term plan is to establish a modern garment company capable of employing at least 50 people.
“My goal is to modernise tailoring, establish a garment company, and employ fifty or more people. I want to contribute to the economy,” he explained.
Former Chairman Wants to Modernise Tailoring
Basaf's ambition goes beyond running a conventional tailoring shop.
He wants to transform his experience in the trade into a larger garment manufacturing enterprise.
The plan, if achieved, could create additional opportunities for skilled workers and apprentices in Kano.
It also reflects a growing argument that Nigeria's informal and vocational sectors can play a major role in addressing unemployment and promoting local production.
For Basaf, tailoring should not be regarded as a minor occupation.
He believes the industry has the potential to support families, employ young people and contribute to economic development when it is properly organised and modernised.
His Message to Young Nigerians
A central part of Basaf's decision to return to tailoring is his desire to change how young people perceive skilled trades.
He urged young Nigerians not to look down on vocational professions.
According to him, trades such as tailoring can provide sustainable livelihoods and should be treated with the same respect given to conventional professional careers.
His advice comes amid persistent concerns about unemployment and limited formal job opportunities.
Many young people spend years pursuing academic qualifications but may still struggle to secure employment.
Basaf's position is that acquiring practical skills alongside formal education can provide an additional source of independence.
He therefore encouraged young people to learn a trade and develop it into a viable business.
“Value Your Trade More Than Politics”
Basaf's experience in public office appears to have strengthened his belief that political power is temporary.
Political circumstances can change quickly.
An elected official can lose an election, a court judgment can alter political circumstances, or an appointment can end unexpectedly.
A business or trade, however, can continue to provide an income if it is properly managed.
Basaf therefore advised people to value their trade more than political office.
His philosophy is that politics should be about service, while business and professional skills can provide the economic foundation needed to support individuals and their families.
For him, tailoring is not simply a way to make clothes.
It is a source of independence, employment and personal fulfilment.
Basaf Has Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Political Science
His decision to return to tailoring is particularly notable because he is not without academic qualifications.
Basaf holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Political Science.
He has also developed extensive political networks through years of participation in Kano politics.
With his educational background and political experience, he could potentially pursue various white-collar career opportunities.
However, he deliberately chose to return to the trade he has always been passionate about.
For Basaf, education and vocational skills are not mutually exclusive.
His experience demonstrates that having academic qualifications does not mean a person should abandon entrepreneurship or practical skills.
Instead, education can potentially be combined with business knowledge to build a stronger enterprise.
Basaf's Political Career in Kano
Before returning to his tailoring business, Basaf was an active participant in Kano politics.
His political journey was influenced by the Kwankwasiyya movement associated with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In 2015, he founded Kwankwasiyya Reporters, a platform that promoted the political movement on social media.
He later served as the state chairman of the Alliance National Party (ANP).
In 2019, Basaf contested for a Senate seat under the party.
He subsequently joined the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), where he was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Information.
His political career eventually progressed to local government leadership.
Basaf Won Kumbotso Chairmanship in 2024
In 2024, Basaf contested for and won the chairmanship of Kumbotso Local Government Area.
During his time in office, which lasted approximately one year and three months, his administration was associated with initiatives in education and healthcare.
He said his administration established schools, facilitated hospitals and supported the education of more than 2,000 students.
However, his time in office ended earlier than expected following a court ruling concerning his Certificate of Return.
Why Basaf Lost His Kumbotso Chairmanship
In March 2026, the Kano State High Court nullified Basaf's Certificate of Return.
The court ruled that the certificate had been issued in violation of an earlier order.
The judgment recognised Ali Musa, popularly known as Hardworker, as the rightful winner and directed that he be sworn into office.
Basaf's tenure therefore ended abruptly.
The legal development changed his political circumstances, but it did not leave him without a career path.
Instead, he returned to the business that had supported him before and during his political journey.
Life After Political Office
For Basaf, losing political office became a turning point rather than the end of his ambitions.
He returned to tailoring full-time and began concentrating on expanding the business.
His workshop has become a place where garments are produced and young people are trained.
The former chairman considers this another form of contribution to society.
Rather than measuring success only by political titles, Basaf now wants to measure his impact by the number of people he can employ, train and support.
His plan to grow the business into a garment company could potentially create more jobs while helping strengthen the local fashion industry.
Basaf Has Not Abandoned Politics
Although tailoring has become his current priority, Basaf has not completely withdrawn from political activities.
He continues to maintain an interest in politics and has ruled out the possibility of permanently leaving the political arena.
His return to tailoring should therefore not be interpreted as a complete political retirement.
Instead, he appears to be combining his entrepreneurial ambitions with his continuing interest in public affairs.
This approach reflects the central message behind his story: a person's economic future should not depend entirely on political office.
A Lesson About Life After Politics
Basaf's experience highlights an important issue for political office holders and young Nigerians generally.
Political positions are temporary.
A person may spend several years building a political career only to lose an election or leave office unexpectedly.
Developing a business, professional career or practical skill can provide a safety net during such transitions.
Basaf's return to tailoring demonstrates that leaving public office does not necessarily mean starting life from zero.
Because he maintained his connection to the trade, he was able to return to a business that already had employees, customers and room for expansion.
His experience also demonstrates the importance of investing in skills before they become urgently needed.
Why Skilled Trades Matter in Nigeria
Nigeria's economy depends heavily on entrepreneurs, artisans and small businesses.
Tailors, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, farmers, designers and other skilled workers provide services that millions of people depend on every day.
Yet vocational careers are sometimes treated as inferior to white-collar employment.
Basaf wants that perception to change.
He believes skilled trades can become successful businesses when entrepreneurs invest in modern equipment, training, branding, customer service and business management.
His ambition to build a larger garment company reflects that approach.
Final Thoughts
Abdullahi Gali Shitu's return to tailoring after losing his political seat offers an unusual but important story about resilience, entrepreneurship and life after public office.
The former Kumbotso LGA chairman has chosen to return to a trade that he says provided financial support throughout his political journey.
Despite holding Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Political Science and having extensive political experience, Basaf remains committed to tailoring because he considers it both his passion and a reliable source of livelihood.
His workshop currently employs about 20 people, while his long-term ambition is to establish a garment company capable of employing at least 50 people.
More importantly, he wants his experience to encourage young Nigerians to value skilled trades and build careers that can survive political and economic uncertainty.
Basaf's story sends a simple message: political office may come and go, but a valuable skill, a strong business and a commitment to honest work can provide lasting opportunities.
FAQ
Who is Abdullahi Gali Basaf?
Abdullahi Gali Basaf, whose full name is Abdullahi Gali Shitu, is a Kano politician, entrepreneur and tailor who previously served as chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Area.
Why did the former Kumbotso chairman return to tailoring?
He returned to tailoring after leaving political office because he considers the trade a more stable source of livelihood and wants to expand his business.
How many people does Basaf's tailoring business employ?
Basaf said his tailoring business currently employs about 20 people.
What is Basaf's plan for his tailoring business?
He wants to modernise the business, establish a garment company and create employment for at least 50 people.
Did Basaf completely leave politics?
No. Although tailoring is currently his priority, he has indicated that he remains interested in politics and does not intend to permanently withdraw from political activities.
What message did Basaf give young Nigerians?
He encouraged young Nigerians to value skilled trades, develop practical skills and avoid depending entirely on politics or formal employment for their livelihoods.
What Do You Think?
Basaf's story raises an important question: Should politicians develop businesses or professional skills that can sustain them after leaving political office?
Share your opinion in the comment section.
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Abdullahi Gali Basaf, Abdullahi Gali Shitu, Kumbotso LGA chairman, Kano politics, former Kumbotso chairman, tailoring business in Nigeria, skilled trades in Nigeria, life after politics
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